A job like everyone else

Operator of Albany airport honored by agency for disabled

Eric Anderso, Times Union

By Eric Anderson

Published 6:18 pm, Thursday, September 4, 2014

Jake Grimm of Rexford, left, and Lance Stewart of Schenectady, right, work at watering and maintaining the plants in the Albany International Airport terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 in Colonie, N.Y. Wayne Peterson, mobile work crew supervisor from Schenctady ARC, center, watches over the workers. The airport works with the New York State Institute on Disability to find job opportunities for its clients. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Lance Stewart of Schenectady works at watering and maintaining the plants in the Albany International Airport terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 in Colonie, N.Y. The airport works with the New York State Institute on Disability to find job opportunities for its clients. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Walter Hoyt of Albany removes scuff marks in the baggage area in the Albany International Airport terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 in Colonie, N.Y. The airport works with the New York State Institute on Disability to find job opportunities for its clients. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Walter Hoyt of Albany removes scuff marks in the baggage area in the Albany International Airport terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 in Colonie, N.Y. The airport works with the New York State Institute on Disability to find job opportunities for its clients. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Walter Hoyt of Albany removes scuff marks in the baggage area in the Albany International Airport terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 in Colonie, N.Y. The airport works with the New York State Institute on Disability to find job opportunities for its clients. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

The jobless recovery has been tough on those looking for work. One group, individuals with disabilities, has been particularly hard hit.

The unemployment rate among people with disabilities who are actively looking for work is 70 percent, said Corey Heritage, an official with the New York State Industries for the Disabled. The Albany-based nonprofit provides job opportunities for nearly 7,000 New Yorkers with disabilities.

It provides skills training and bids for contracts to provide everything from janitorial duties to window-cleaning, industrial laundry work and even taking care of plants.

"Typically our customers are state agencies, local government, schools and municipalities," said Sara Erickson of NYSID. The nonprofit bids for contracts while paying the prevailing wage rate with benefits to its workers.

The earnings allow individuals to live independently. NYSID also provides counseling services.

"They can move into apartments, out of halfway houses," said Heritage. "These are not insignificant opportunities."

One of NYSID's customers is the Albany County Airport Authority, which has contracted with it for seven years. This month, NYSID will name the authority, which operates Albany International Airport, its 2014 Customer of the Year. An award will be presented during NYSID's annual meeting at 5 p.m. Monday at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs.

"We continue to use NYSID because of the quality of their work," said John O'Donnell, the airport chief executive officer. He said the prices were competitive with other contractors.

At the airport, NYSID employees polish the terrazzo floors in the main terminal, wash windows, and care for the indoor plants. They perform janitorial tasks at the Million Air building that services private aviation, and also keep the control tower clean.

Paul Quirini, a NYSID spokesman, said the airport provides 31 workers with jobs.

"The Albany County Airport Authority has been a longtime supporter of NYSID's member agencies and corporate partners, creating numerous employment opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities," said Ron Romano, NYSID's president and CEO. "This local government customer is a prime example of how much the Capital Region and our state benefit by having a workforce that is inclusive of persons with disabilities."

NYSID also offers other services, from document scanning and imaging to electronics recycling. It works with a range of companies and agencies, including eBizDocs, the Altamont Program, Action Window Cleaning, the Center for Disability Services and the Schenectady County Chapter of NYSARC.

NYSID, founded in 1975, will be celebrating its 40th anniversary over the coming year.